New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS

TEARS OF EXPERIENCE. An Autonicssnsspn f
Narrative. ny 0EoRGrANA BRUCE kihBf i|no pp
BIS. q. r. Pntnams Sons.
Nrs Kirbv who as Miss Bruce, had some con-
nection with various liberal and reformato ra
movements in this country during the "transcen-
dental period" has set down, along with her per
eonal story recOllectOns Of several famous PER
s0ns and sketches Of Brook Farm, OF the anti
slavery agitation, Of hydrOpathy and mesmerlsm,
Of schools and Of Sing Sing Prison She was born
in England, went to Canada as a gOvcrness, became
o nurse in q Boston family, Joined the Brook Farm
Association where she formed close frlendshp
with Margaret Fuller was a prison warden under
Mrs Eliza Falnham. and at last devoted hersclr
TO teaching. At the age Of five she embraced
sccptical opinions and she ever afterward az
war with all forms of religious orthodoxy OF WHICH
sho speaks even now with extreme acero'y'
is a remarkable commentary upon her home ana
school education that her infantlle views Oh "ou
and salvation were never suspected ana uiac snc
WINS conf, med and admitted t. the communion In
tl,e Cb,rcl, OF En.land notwithstanding that shc
wasall the while furious little unbelever she teis
us. however altogether too much about her early
theological sentiments. the liberalism OF the NUS
cry not being a specially important contl1o".'h
to human enlightenment. The most interesting
part of her purely personal narrative relates 10
her residence n Canada, where her emf loyeis
were an English family trying in vain TO learn
farming in a new frontier settlement The BrooR
Farm chapters disappointing The substance
of them has appeared in various magazines and
the writer has been accused by some OF her oiu
associates of stepping outside the facts" She
pleads in excuse that she could not in any llterai
statement give an idea of the spirit that actuated
tho community. This is unfortunate. One is
often not sure where the romance comes In, and
the whole narrative has therefore an air of I'M
reality as if it were an attempt to turn the
story to the most profitable account as literary
material Nevertheless there are many gOod
touches The portrait of Mr.. Ripley, though by
no means complete. is lifeIike in some OF It's
details There Is characteristic anecdote OF
Miss Bruce, in a gushing mood leaning over the
banisters and calling out to Mr. Ripley, who was
absorbed in book "Mr. Ripley, Mr.. Ripley,
am perfectly happy The studious president oil
the association did not hear the exclamation
until it was repeated, and then he only glanced
ND with an absent expression and said All
indeed I" The vehemence and extravacance OF
Orestes A. Brownson are truthfully described; and
there is q pleasant account OF the enthusiasm with
which Charles A. Dana led the study of languages
"Once we had masquerade picnic In the woods.
where we were thrown into Commissions OF Iaugh-
ter at the sight of q. W. c. dressed as Fanny
Ilsler In low-necked, short sleeved book muslin
dress and tiny rufred apron, making courtesies
and pirouetting down the path There seems
to have been q great deal of friction in paradise
and Miss Bruce found many Of her COMPANIONS
unsympathetic, and complained that she was
not understood. Some Of her criticisms upon
tho shortcomings Of persons whom she names
are unpleasantly free. We learn however, after
reading few chapters, TO accept such expressions
of opinion with O large allowance for the writer's
tcmperament The spirit Of her book is far from
genial.